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>> and now, "bbc world news >> freed from house arrest, dominique strauss kahn has his bail conditioned relaxed as the case against the former i.m.f. chief starts to crack. mass demonstrations sweeps through syria. some of the biggest anti-government protests so far. colonel qaddafi addresses his supporters threatening attacks against europe and series of explosions heard in his capital. welcome to bbc news, broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america and also around the globe. the return of the former thai leader's sister has high hopes for sunday. all smiles on canada day as the duke of cambridge tries out his french on the crowd.

hello and welcome. a judge in new york has lifted the strict bail conditions imposed on the former head of international monetary funds of daniel strauss kahn amid-intense speculation the sexual assault case against him is faltering. he's been under house arrest in new york since posting a $6 million bail bond in may. now he's free to travel in america, although he can't leave the country, and must appear in court again later this month. this report contains is flash photography. >> a relaxed and confident dominique strauss kahn arrived at the court flanked by his loyal wife. the u.s. media reported the case against him was on the brink of collapse. in court the former i.m.f. chief had the prosecution itself raise doubts about the woman who claims he tried to rape her.

>> although it is clear it is related to the complaining witness, we are not moving to dismiss the case at in time. >> since the case is weaker, the judge released mr. strauss-kahn from his strict bail conditions. will he get back the $6 million posted in bail and insurance. his lawyers believe it won't be long until the charges are dropped. >> we've maintained from the beginning that mr. strauss-kahn is innocent of these charges and these recent disclosures reinforce he will be exonerated. >> it all started on this manhattan hotel may 14 when a maid from guinea claimed mr. strauss kahn attempted to rape and sexually assault her when she cleaned his suite of rooms. now prosecutors say the maid lied to the grand jury, claiming she hid in the hallway and she now admits to cleaning another room before reporting the alleged attack.

prosecutors say the maid lied on her asylum application and lied to investigators about being raped in guinea. outside court her lawyer gave a graphic account of the injuries he she claimed she sustained during the claimed rape. >> the medical evidence supports the victim's account. the forensic evidence supports her account. she was taken from the hotel to the hospital in an ambulance. by grand jury has already found her account credible. >> dominique strauss-kahn was forced to resign as head of the i.m.f. as greece's economy was in crisis. if this case unravels, his ambitious to be fraveragee presidential contender could revive. supporters expect the socialist canada before the visa expires in two weeks. >> he will be welcomed in france

and i think the people here will have for him great admiration than before, because he has shown during his period great qualities of courage, dignity. >> it's been a turbulent six weeks for dominique strauss-khan , from top financial official to criminal defendant. but he left court look ago sured and encouraged by the cracks in the case against him. >> that was a report from new york. syrian security forces have reportedly shot dead at least 14 protesters as hundreds of thousands of people took part in some of the biggest demonstrations since syria's uprising began in march. people took to the streets across the country calling on president assad to step down. from damascus, kwleen reports. >> hysteria, some of the biggest since demonstrations began in

march. these pictures show hundreds of thousands of people in hamas. it is the city where 10,000 people were killed after the regime brutally suppressed an uprising in 1982. they are unafraid to defy their rulers. activists say at least 3 million participated nationwide in demonstrations today, a figure that is impossible to verify. but what is certain is large scale protests are taking place. these pictures from the city show crowds of demonstrators. similar scenes, the country's second city. and in the capital damascus, too. more cause for president assad to leave. protests have been mostly peaceful today after mounting

pressure on the regime to stop using violence against its people. but in homes at the center of the anti-government unrest, truth opened fire. many people are believed to have been killed. washington says it's not convinced the regime is serious about change. >> they are either going to allow a serious political process that will include peaceful protests to take place throughout syria and engage in a productive dialogue with members of the opposition and civil society, or they're going to continue to see increasingly organized resistance. >> but there are also many who don't want the president to stay and are rallying in his favor. but despite their support and promises of change by the government, we've seen the it

showed 2340 no way back for the government and it showed assad's time was up. >> a series of loud explosions have been heard in tripoli and black smoke had been seen rising from one of the regime's city compounds. nato has not confirmed any details of the operation over the city. meanwhile earlier, colonel qaddafi was heard to supporters threaten attacks in europe unless nato halts air strikes against the regime in libya. our correspondent rupert winfield hayes reports from tripoli. >> a little earlier we heard a series of loud explosions from the center of tripoli. we're not exactly sure what was hit but there are reports of large polls of black smoke rising from one particular compound in the center of the city. in the last few minutes there been more sound of jet aircraft floying over the city, anti-aircraft fire. clearly there does appear to be

a nato operation going on in and around the city of tripoli this evening. this follows the largest thron station in support of the qaddafi regime we have seen here in many, many weeks. tens of thousands of pro qaddafi supporters flooded into green square this afternoon in a show of defiance n. a show of support for thia daffy regime. it was addressed by colonel qaddafi via telephone down a crackley phone line, during which he made these specific threats to attack back, strike back at europe. he said we will take the battle to europe to target their homes, their offices and their families, if nato does not stop its bombing campaign against libya. there has been a response to that already from the state department. releasing a statement saying they take the threat seriously because colonel qaddafi's regime has been shown in the past to carry out attacks in europe, particularly back in the 1980's.

but also he is a man who has given to overblown rhetoric. >> rupert winfield hayes reporting from tripoli there. now king mohammed has won a land slide victory in a referendum over constitutional reforms he proposed in protesters. in polls, more than 98% of voters back the new constitution. critics said the referendum had been rushed through. our correspondence jesse elner, has been following events. >> not a lot of surprise among a lot of moroccans here that the referendum had been passed. in fact when i walked around this morning in several voting centers and spoke to people, i really had a lot of difficulty finding one voter who was voting no. all of people i spoke to, i could only find one young man

who is posing the reforms, and he he chose not to vote. so it's also good to read a little bit behind the numbers, behind what it means to have 98% and 72% of voters turn out. you see that also means basically 30% of the 30 million eligible voters did not show up and actually boycotted the voting, which is about 4 million people. so there is also you know the side to look at and say the 4 million people have heard the calls to boycott this referendum. >> the bbc jesse elmer. now looking at some of the other news today and share prices in the united states have seen their best weekly performance for two years. and now the market boost was due to better than expected basis from the manufacturing sector

and improving their court sales along with the diminishing concern over the greek debt crisis. police in hong kong have arrested dozens of pro-democracy demonstrators. demonstrators were calling for the leader of the chinese to sit down. police used pepper spray to disperse the protesters, held to mark 40 years since the end of british rule. the australian air saft watchdog grounded all australian domestic flights of tiger airwaves. the singapore airline is accused of flying twice under the altitude. the fleet will be grounded for five days because of a serious risk to safety. the first regular direct flight has left for north korea from china's commercial capital shanghai. it took more than 100 tourists to experience the new capital pyongyang. the new flight will link the two cities twice a week.

in northern ireland violence has fled again in east belfast in the same area where rioting took place last week. the trouble broke out following a parade in the district. police described it as significant disorder. officers used water canyon and fired a number of plastic rounds as they tried to restore calm to the area. the violence was not on the same scale as last week's riots in the city. you're watching bbc news. still ahead -- monaco royal couple seal their marriage with a kiss. poland has taken over the rotating presidency of the european union for the first time. polish and e.u. leaders met in war saw to celebrate the event with he polish politicians striking a positive note, despite the economic crisis in many parts of europe.

poland wants to strengthen the market to press ahead. >> there's been precious little joy for europe's leaders in recent weeks, with greece's economic problems taking up most of their attention. but there are few signs of doubts about the european project in war saw. -- warsaw. translator: poland takes over the presidency today, standing firmly on its feet and raising its head high because poles never doubted the point of the european union, even in times of crisis and the world sees this. >> signs of gratitude from europe's leaders. pleased perhaps find a country where support for e.u. member shd stands at 80%. >> i count on you, mr. prime minister, and your government and the polish people to move us forward in the construction of europe. i wish you a very successful

presidency. >> but just the day before, protests on warsaw's streets. poland enjoys economic growth 36.5% annually. but this demonstration in warsaw saw tens of thousands of con solidarity protesters complaining they are left behind with low wages and tensions. and a reminder of protests further west and indications europe's leaders have work to do yet convincing people they can safeguard the confident economic future. harold davis, bbc news. >> you're watching bbc news. the main headlines -- former heads of the international monetary funds, dominique strauss kahn, have been released from bail in new york. human rights campaigners say 14

syrians have been shot dead during nationwide demonstrations. candidates from thailand's two main political parties are canvassing for votes ahead of sunday's general election. the current prime minister of the ruling democrat party main rival for power has highly influential political connections in thailand. >> she's a young, american educated businesswoman and leader of thailand's opposition party. chenoweth has absolutely no political experience but her brother is the former thai leader. like him she aligned herself from poverty, promising to increase minimum wage and introduce subsidies for farmers. he was ousted in a coup five years ago and also lives in dubai. he's been writing for politicians and giving his

sister advice. if she wins the vote, she will be the first female prime minister but taking nothing for granted. translator: i don't know yet if i should be confident. would i rather listen to the people's voice on election day. >> that contrast, the thai prime minister and leader of the democrat party is oxford educated and has the backing of the establishment. he believes the back of the opposition is enable him to go home to thailand. he's warned voters the formal leader's return would destabilize the country and says voters have a clear choice to make. >> whether they want to move the country forward for the democrats, the policies that will help alleviate the problems of the people concerning high prices or drought or if they want to move u.s. ties to work for one man, give them $4.6 million. >> thailand is save plagued by violence. anti-government protesters have at times brought the capital to a standstill. last year at least 90 people

were killed and some 2,000 injured during an army crackdown. the problem is this election once again pictures thailand's rich against the poor. there are fear noes matter who wins the vote on sunday, losers will refuse to accept the results and an already-agriculture ravated political situation could become even worse. bbc news. >> the chinese president jintao has warned residents of the communist party they must fight corruption to retain the support and trust of the people. mr. hu was speaking in a televised address to mark the 90th anniversary of the party's founding. our chinese correspondent reports this anniversary come as longside growing evidence of social unrest across the country. >> who said communism is dead? the party once lens by chairman mao is 90 today. other communist regimes

collapsed, china's has gone from strength to strength. the men in suits may look like a relic from the past but today china's communist leaders were congratulating themselves. translator: looking at china's progress over the past 19 years, we have naturally come to this basic conclusion -- success in china hinges on the party. >> there was no mention of mao's disaster, tens of millions who died from famine or persecution but plenty of talk about how the party is restoring the dount greatness. chairman mao is still at the center of everything. looking down on tiananmen square, his body lies in state here. but the secret of the party's success is the way its adapted, dumping communist ideas but keeping its strict political control, crushing anything that threatens the party's sole right to rule. the communist party is presiding

over an economic transformation unlike any the world has seen. hundreds of millions have been lifted out of poverty. opened just yesterday the world's longest sea bridge spanning 26 miles and a bullet train line from shanghai to beijing 800 miles long. presents for the party's birthday. unnerved by the democratic revolutions in the middle east, it's in the middle of its most severe crackdown since the tee enman massacre 20 years ago. building the communist party's new china has involved frequent battle. most are over land, local developers making way for new plat flats, offices and shopping malls. and there are many who believe the party is increasingly corrupt, unaccountable, driven by power and greed. translator: we have had no compensation, nothing n january the hired goons attacked us.

we have decided enough is enough. >> we were lied to, cheated. our land was stolen and sold. they sent thugs to beat us. nobody cared. i will go on fighting until my last breath. >> despite this, new recruits keep swelling the communist party's rank. it has 80 million members and rising. that's no surprise really. the party is seen as a root to success in china today, and it has eliminated all of its rivals. >> venezuelan president hugo chavez credited his friend and mentor former cuban president fidel castro for saving his health. in a phone call to cuban state television, he said it was fidel castro who persuaded him to undergo the help.

cuban doctors removed a tumor from his pelvis. the greek coast guard intercepted a vote carrying american activists bound for the gaza strip. the boat was part of a flotilla planning to carry humanitarian aid to gaza in the challenge to the israeli blockade on the palestinian territory. they have banned ships leaving gaza from its shope. jace hir beman is the flotilla's organizer. >> it was smooth sailing until the coast guard came up and put a boat in front of our door and said to the captain, you have to turn back. captain said we're going ahead. we have all of the papers. they're all in place. everything is fine. we're not going back. >> britain's duke and duchess of cambridge celebrated canada day with thousands of people in the capital os awafment on the first day, prince william told the parliament on parliament hill he was excited of the prospect by coming part of the canadian family as they traveled around the country.

from ottawa, we have this report. >> they are young and glamorous, which undoubtedly helps but to be a successful royal requires more. things like a sense of service and ability to connect with people, because that lifts them belong mere celebrity. william and kate arrived at the annual canada day celebration in a horse-drawn carriage. the crowds were large, the welcome once again enthusiastic. as the queen's representative in canada, the governor general mounted the podium, the crowd shouted for will and kate. they made their way to the stage giving the crowd a chance to see kate was wearing canada's national colors of red and white. canada's prime minister congratulated them on their marriage. the crowd cheered, dignitaries clapped and happy couple looked, well, happy and as the cheering went on and on arkse little bewildered. she patted his leg and when

finally the cheering stopped, it was time for will toum try out his french again. they were thrilled, he said, at the prospect of eight more days in canada. canada may be the prospect of too many more speeches in french but canadians would be far too polite to say so. this was a partial pro-monarchy crowd but broadly speaking, that is how much of canada is and stheem to like the look of the royal family's newest couple. today would have been the 50th birthday of william's mother. he may be reassured that he and his wife are once again showing how royalty can reach out to people. nicholas mitchell, bbc news, ottawa. >> and staying on the world theme, because the ruling prince of monaco, albert ii, married the former south african olympic swimmer charlene whitstock in a civil ceremony in the royal

palace. crowds of people from the mediterranean city and state gathered in the square outside the palace to celebrate. the wedding is the biggest such event in in monaco since 1956 when his father william iii married the hollywood actress grace kelly. >> the most a former swimming champion became a princess and the moment the people of monaco could breathe a collective sigh of relief. the exchange of vows between charlene and prince albert brought to an end feverish speculation this wedding might not happen. the signing of the marriage registrar with a golden pen proving the doubters wrong. watching on big screen, the residents of the principality voiced their approval. it is on tuesday newspapers reported rumors miss whitstock,

a south african, had fled monaco for nis airport with a one-way ticket for johannesburg. the palace dismissed the story as ugly rumors prompted only by jealousy. the last time monaco experienced an occasion like this was in 1956 when his father, prince renier, married the hollywood actress grace kelly. some believed ail ber, the prince, with a playbay reputation would never settle down. after the rumors of the past few days, there's a general feeling of satisfaction in monaco their reigning prince is at last a married man. ♪ >> and congratulations to them. of course, much more on our website on all of our stories and, of course, don't forget can you follow us now on twitter. do have a look at that. have you been watching bbc news with me. thank you for watching.

>> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global

financial strength to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news america" was presented by kcet los angeles.